Listen now to hear the powerful journey of mothers who have lost their children to injustice and violence, and their relentless fight for justice.
Tehran, Thursday, March 27, 2025 – In the heavy silence of Tehran’s Behesht Zahra Cemetery, a justice seeking mother, who lost her child in the wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime, kneels beside the grave of Mohsen Shekari, the first protester executed by the regime in 2022.
Her voice trembles with grief, yet it carries unwavering determination. As she whispers to Mohsen Shekari—whose name has become a symbol of public resistance—she adorns his resting place with flowers, a tribute to her own son. As tears fall onto the cold stone, she speaks her wish without hesitation: “The overthrow of this oppressive regime.”
The Cry for Justice: Bereaved Mothers Refuse to Be Silenced
The widespread executions in Iran have left countless families in mourning. Among them, justice seeking mothers have emerged as powerful symbols of resistance against oppression. Every week, they gather at the graves of their loved ones, keeping their memories alive and demanding justice.
One such mother, tying a red ribbon to the tree above Shekari’s grave, explains her symbolic gesture: “This ribbon is a protest against executions and Iranian regime. We do not want to see more of our children killed.”
Flowered Graves: A Silent Yet Powerful Protest
In recent months, families of those executed have turned to symbolic acts of defiance, adorning their loved ones’ graves with flowers to send a message of resilience and defiance to both society and the world. These mothers, who have withstood years of threats and repression, are not only seeking justice for their own children but for all victims of the regime’s brutal repression.
The Regime’s Crackdown on Justice Seeking Mothers
Iranian regime has repeatedly sought to silence justice seeking mothers, subjecting them to security threats, preventing their gatherings, and even detaining some of them. Yet, these threats have not deterred them from seeking justice. Many of these mothers, who lost their children during street protests, in prison cells, or under torture, have now become symbols of defiance against tyranny.
A Shared Vision: An Iran Without Executions and Repression
With the increasing wave of oppression, public anger and discontent in Iran have reached a boiling point. Bereaved mothers, seeking justice for their slain children, are now more hopeful than ever that their dream of freedom and justice will be realized. They are calling for independent international tribunals to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable, vowing not to relent until justice is served.
The flowered graves, the tears of the mothers, and their cries for justice are all signs of a growing movement that refuses to fade. These women, who have lost their loved ones in the fight for freedom, remain steadfast. They believe that the end of this regime and the cessation of executions are no longer distant dreams but inevitable realities—ones that will come to pass through unity and resistance.
